The Short Works of George Meredith

it not gifted with imagination, he could not avoid the feeling that he had set his face to Winter. He found himself suddenly walking straight into the heart of Wint

e the flowing business that it is for other men. It would demand

t a pleasin

y. She might be an excellent friend to Elizabeth; and she could

not more than fifty-five, in his ful

teppes. In point of the discipline he was to expect, he

oman of mind. One wo

e, striking out one solitary thought in the obscurity, namely, that he was about to receive punishment for retiring from active service to

eral discomposed his daughter by offering to accompany her on her morning ride before breakfast. She con

checked his horse and spied them like a vedette, but, perceiving that he ha

id he. 'But we all applaud your taste. My aun

me!' and looked at the young man, think

anged, my d

beg-I say I beg... I came ou

al rode f

akfast. He was bound, of course, to present himself to

emanly residence.' And it was a gentlemanly residence, he thought as he took leave of it. It was one, neatly

so coolly of his aunt's leaning to matrimony; but perhaps he

the extremely honourable nature of L

to make. He would have to speak of his in

I must be the same! he said,

n the topic of money, and feeling that his pruden

parasol. A chair was beside her, to which, acknow

ephew Reginald thi

ore breakfast, I did, yes. Hem! I, I say I

very pretty in th

tly p

the mildness of assured dictatorship,

dy,' said the po

guilty, and then we are not merely offended, we are compromised by them. You are still of

y we cannot check time. Decide

y lawyer says it. It reeks of the City o

e General flashed out in a r

erfully, 'and you're

ady Ca

tteries, General. Well, then,

ginning, with perturbed forehead;

finished. You know that these two young ones have been whispering over the wall for some months

la

ay with your

y daughter

to assume the existence of the family. You have allowed matters to go so far that the boy is hot in love; I suppose the girl is, too. She is a nice girl. I do not object to her personally. But I insist that a settlement be made on her before I give my nephew one penny. Hear me out, for I am not fond of business, and shall be glad to have done with these explanations. Regina

with breath fetch

ild! it is natural to her to seek a mate, I mean, to accept a mate and an establishment, and Reginald is a very hopeful fellow-I was saying, th

e happiness of your

y. It would rat

s the lawyers say, of my purse; you would have horses, carriage

old services, and I accept my position. But, madam, a pensioner on my wife, bringin

t would it do,

my wife's pensioner, my lady. I co

ughter, to save her from mischances? A rakish husband, for example; f

bsence for the poor girl. I have no female relation,

teem, ever-and I repeat, I forbid you ever-to a

ed in a state of

he was sure, in the very best society. He had never heard Her Majesty speak at levees of a lady-friend, but he was quite sure t

treatment of him, and he resolved not to call her A

on estate; I neither look for it nor desire it. The generous thing for

tail my income-a man at his wife's discretio

. He did not see how he could have escaped doing so; he was more an agent than a princip

deep blood-crimson overcame the rouge

sit, and the treaty is not c

'Good morning, General

ady's age, she was a grand woman in her carriage, and when looking angry,

reviously known. He was precipitate in calling it the

of all, one who has entered into